| Far Too Many Inappropriate Puns Come to Mind Posted: 11 Apr 2012 03:20 AM PDT 
KCBD: There are plenty of services available to help you clean your house, but this cleaning service offers a reason for the homeowner to stay and watch. Lubbock Fantasy Maid Service has been in business for nearly a month, operating in and around the hub city. They’re like any other maid service, except that these girls will take their clothes off, all of their clothes off, if clients request The owner, Melissa Borrett, tells us she started the business after struggling to make ends meet. Photo by SFC/ShutterStock. 
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| They Almost Built a Full Sized Star Trek Enterprise in Las Vegas Posted: 10 Apr 2012 01:33 PM PDT 
Gary Goddard tells the story of the near-construction of a life-sized Starship Enterprise replica in downtown Las Vegas: The “big idea” was building the ship itself at full-scale. That was the main attraction. That being said, we also knew we would have to have some kind of “show” on board. So, conceptually, it was to be a “tour” of the ship, with all of the key rooms, chambers, decks, and corridors that we knew from the movie. There was to be the dining area for the ship’s crew (where you could dine in Star Fleet comfort), and other special features. There were also one or two interesting ride elements that we were considering including a high-speed travelator that would whisk you from deck to deck. But we were really just getting into the show aspects when everything came to a head. During this time, as we were working out the conceptual design and plan, a licensing contract was negotiated for Paramount Studios with the terms and conditions, including a substantial rights payment up front, and on-going revenue participation, all subject to the approval of the Studio Chairman, which “would not be a problem” if the project was approved. As you can see, from the designs we’ve shown here, we got pretty far down the road, with drawings, renderings, engineering studies, construction cost estimates – about $150,000,000 (in 1992 dollars) – we were ready to go. I had Greg Pro working on it, I had Dan Gozee (long time Disney Imagineering illustrator) on it, and we were really into the whole idea. Everyone was excited. This was going to be a world-class iconic project that would become an international sensation from the moment it was announced… So with everyone in the room, I take Mr. Jaffe through the project. With the art, the plans, the overall concept. After my spirited “pitch” everyone was beaming – everyone except Mr. Jaffe. Mr. Jaffe thanked us for the effort, and he congratulated us on creating a bold concept and presentation, and then went into a speech that went something like this: “You know, this is a major project. You’re going to put a full-scale ENTERPRISE up in the heart of Las Vegas. And on one hand that sounds exciting. But on another hand, it might not be a great idea for us – for Paramount.” Everyone in the room was stunned, most of all, me, because I could see where this was going. “In the movie business, when we produce a big movie and it’s a flop – we take some bad press for a few weeks or a few months, but then it goes away. The next movie comes out and everyone forgets. But THIS – this is different. If this doesn’t work – if this is not a success – it’s there, forever….” I remember thinking to myself “oh my god, this guy does NOT get it….” And he said “I don’t want to be the guy that approved this and then it’s a flop and sitting out there in Vegas forever.” 
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| Video: Caine’s Arcade Posted: 10 Apr 2012 01:30 PM PDT 
Watch this video as a 9 year old boy – who built an elaborate cardboard arcade inside his dad’s used auto part store – has the best day of his life. 9 year-old Caine built an elaborate arcade out of cardboard boxes (located in his dad’s used auto parts store). Unfortunately, Caine had no customers. Then one day, the internet organized a surprise to make his day. 
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| Today in Entrepreneurial History: April 10 Posted: 10 Apr 2012 10:31 AM PDT |
| Small Dairies Creating Opportunities In Pasturization Posted: 10 Apr 2012 09:00 AM PDT 
CBS News: Major manufacturers long ago gave up producing equipment for small dairies, which seemed to be a thing of the past. But with small dairies opening to meet the demand for locally produced food, the market for equipment for five-cow, 10-sheep and 20-goat operations is seeing a resurgence. A Maryland entrepreneur has developed a small-scale milk pasteurizer that has been sold in about 30 states and a number of other countries. A Vermont farmer has created another small-scale pasteurizer that his company hopes to get approved for sale this summer.
Photo by liz west 
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| Olympic Sized Business Disruptions Posted: 10 Apr 2012 08:30 AM PDT 
Ever wonder what happens to the businesses when the Olympics come to town? The Telegraph has the story of one man, Michael Spinks, and the effect it has already had on his business. He understands the company's main access route will be completely closed during the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and may be restricted between the two events. The "one viable alternative route" may be closed for at least 18 hours a day. Mr Spinks is currently awaiting a decision from Hackney Council over whether he'll even be able to operate between midnight and 6am. "With no guarantee we can receive vehicles at night, the only thing that will guarantee our survival is a move away," he says. "The rest is chance and I don't think the Olympics should be making me play Russian roulette with my business." Customers are getting twitchy, he says, and a handful have already deserted the business. "A few customers have got in touch but we don't know if we can make the deliveries, so we don't have a story to tell. When we've said we may only be able to deliver at night, they've said ‘no thanks'. Once they're gone, I can't expect them to come back." Londoners have been told to prepare for 100 days of disruption during the games – a number which Locog has been keen to suggest overplays the threat. For Mr Spinks, however, even fewer than 50 days of heavily disrupted trading could be enough to send a business that operates on thin margins over the edge.
Photo by Jason 
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| Use Your Blog To Reach Customers Posted: 10 Apr 2012 08:00 AM PDT 
FDL Reporter.com: Swanson, who operates Lemon Tree Photographers with her husband out of their Fond du Lac home, uses her blog to post photos and provide information for customers. She goes a step beyond with another blog, The Modern Tog, which she started to help new professional photography entrepreneurs. A pricing guide for photographers is one of her most popular posts. Sites like Facebook and Twitter may be social, but you only have so much space to write before fans and followers click away. Instead, Swanson and Page Wheeler link their blog to social media pages, so those who want to read more can click to visit the blogs.
Photo by Victor1558 
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